Residents of Harigi in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district have banned large non-vegetarian wedding feasts, citing drought, crop losses and debts incurred by families to host them. The village committee set penalties for both hosts and guests.
Under the resolution, residents may neither organise a beegaroota feast in the village nor attend one held elsewhere. The Grama Abhivruddhi Samiti, a committee of village elders, will enforce the decision. It set a fine of ₹100,000 for anyone who hosts a prohibited feast and ₹50,000 for a guest who attends. The Hindu and other Indian news outlets reported the same decision and penalty amounts. The committee treasurer said any fines collected would go to the village temple.
Committee president Shekharaj told The Hindu that elaborate feasts were not a village tradition a decade ago but had become part of wedding ceremonies in recent years. Families of both the bride and groom began arranging them, and some spent as much as ₹1 million on a single event, he said. Committee treasurer Shanmukha Harigi said some gatherings involved three to four quintals of meat and served more than 5,000 people. A few families sold part of their land or took large loans to cover the expense. Residents said the spending grew as the size of the feast became a matter of prestige.
About 350 families live in Harigi. Most belong to the Deevaru community, which is listed among India’s Backward Classes, and depend on farming. Nearly all households are small growers of paddy and maize, crops badly affected by drought. The Hindu reported that the state government had included Shikaripur among drought-hit taluks. Areca growers are trying to protect their plants with the water available, while farmers say they cannot expect normal returns from their fields.
Shanmukha Harigi said a similar proposal to prohibit the feasts had found little support five years ago, but the drought had changed residents’ view. The committee plans to use any fines collected for the village temple. On Thursday, representatives of Deevaru organisations from Soraba and Shikaripur taluks visited Harigi and honoured local leaders. They urged other villages facing similar conditions to consider the resolution. The Hindu also reported that it received positive attention on social media. Residents say the decision is intended to reduce costly celebrations while allowing families to use the money for longer-term needs.